Guest Post: Keeping Your Pets Happy At Home

Keeping Your Pets Happy At Home

At one time or another we are all afflicted by the condition known as boredom. Boredom sucks, but luckily, it never really lasts that long, because as people, we have created a myriad of ways to alleviate boredom. After many years of entertaining ourselves we have forgotten that boredom can actually be a serious problem, and in the process we have neglected the poor household Pet.

Pets too can be bored. Unlike people folk, pets have to suffer in silence, and can’t enjoy the cinematic pleasures of the Coen Brother’s No Country for Old Men, or the lyrical prowess of Adele. Instead they tear apart all of the furniture, at a great cost to the owner.

Pets provide unconditional love and that’s why we find them adorable, but they also completely and wholly depend on us. People are responsible for a Pet’s physical and mental health, as well as making sure they are happy and comfortable.

Comfort is probably the easiest thing to provide: as long as your home is comfortable, your pet should be comfortable. A warm, well ventilated environment is ideal for all parties involved, and if you have a room that your pets like to spend time in (which may occasionally get cold) you should probably invest in some modern technology like an electric heater.

Dogs

Dogs are like the hikers of the pet world: they love to walk. A walk is not just a walk for a dog, it’s a thrilling adventure filled with excitement and joy.  As you walk through constantly changing scenery, a dog will be in a euphoric state of curiosity as they examine objects on the ground, one by one, like each may contain a wonderful treasure. This may seem to be a simple walk to a human, but it is actually the greatest and healthiest stimulation a dog can experience. When it’s over, you might just find that you enjoyed it also.

Cats

Some people consider Cats to be way less needy than dogs. Cats are independent creatures, rebels without a cause, lone warriors of suburbia; cats would probably look at you with disgust if you suggested taking them for a walk (they may also be confused, since they don’t understand English). Usually cats are left to roam: free to come and go with the help of a cat-flap. If you can get a cat-flap installed, it’s a definite advantage, as you won’t need to keep opening the door whenever your cat wants to leave. There is an old saying that “dogs have masters and cats have staff”, which is often found to be true.

If you have a cat which likes to stay indoors (some do, don’t judge them), then you should probably make an effort to play with them. They may, or may not be interested, because that’s how they are, but you should always be willing. Owning scratching posts and other toys would be a great idea also.

Small Pets

Smaller pets such as hamsters and caged birds are lame. That’s a lie: they’re awesome, really awesome. Small animals need entertainment too, and at a minimum should have things to distract them built into their cages. Don’t forget about them. Interact with them. Talk to them. Even if they’ve no idea what you’re talking about; even if you suspect they don’t like Shakespeare, at least you’re providing a distraction. Many pet owners leave a radio on all day because it provides much needed distraction.

Exotic and strange pets such as Spiders, Lizards, or Fish need controlled temperatures. If you own something like this you are probably aware of this fact, but if not, many stores that sells these sorts of animals can tell you the specific environments you’ll need to create for them(beyond a pretty secure case). Usually this involves some sort of electric heating system.

Finally, keep in mind that bored pets can become depressed, obese and increasingly unhealthy. Happy pets, on the other hand, are usually healthy and long-lived.

Thomas Milson is a blogger, and freelance writer. He loves animals, and owns a small Jack Russell terrier. His favourite cartoon character is the Corgi ‘Ein’ from Cowboy Bebop. He is lactose intolerant. These are random facts.